Dear Members at City of Vancouver and Board of Parks and Recreation:
As you are all aware, your union representatives have been meeting with the employer since November 26, 2025 to discuss the Section 54 notice and notice of impending layoffs. We have met with employer representatives on approximately fifteen occasions. As part of those discussions, the union and employer agreed to extend the Section 54 sixty-day deadline to February 10, 2026.
The majority of these discussions have focused on the Union Voluntary Departure Program (UVDP) and the potential to transfer other non-participating employees. The purpose of this early departure program and the ability to transfer is to mitigate the number of layoffs. The UVDP and transfer processes have been focused on the creation of a “pool” of vacancies into which employees can be transferred or placed rather than face a layoff and/or bumping.
As of our meeting today (February 9, 2026), it is apparent we will not have a clear sense of the success of these initiatives until the final determinations are made regarding the UVDP. The initiative around transfers is still in its early stages as the employer gathers input from Department Heads and the needs of workgroups across the organization. That is to say, the final number of impacts (layoffs) cannot be determined until these processes have been implemented and their success evaluated.
Your union representatives have been working very hard to mitigate the impacts these staff reductions will have on our members. Our goal is to minimize layoffs and, where layoffs cannot be avoided, to support our members through any layoff and/or subsequent bumping that may result. Currently, we do not have sufficient information available to provide accurate details regarding the when and where of potential layoffs. In the interim, we will continue to update members as best we can and with as much information as we are able to share.
Please watch for future communications via email and on our website.
In solidarity,
Santino Scardillo
Acting President